Lebron James wins Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year

Cavaliers star LeBron James earned 2016 Sportsperson of the Year honors from Sports Illustrated after leading Cleveland to its first professional sports championship in 52 years last season.

James, 31, helped the Cavaliers erase a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven NBA Finals series with the Golden State Warriors, preserving the comeback victory with his iconic block of Warriors forward Andre Iguodala in Game 7.

"In putting the Cavaliers on his back in the NBA Finals he also fulfilled a promise to his home city and to an entire region," Sports Illustrated's editorial team wrote. "He was following through on that heartfelt, but risky, vow he made three summers ago when he returned home after four successful years in Miami."

In the 2015-16 season, James averaged 25.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.4 steals in 76 games while leading the Cavaliers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 57-25 record.

James, a four-time NBA MVP who has won three championships -- two with the Heat, also earned Sportsperson of the Year in 2012 after winning his first title, his third MVP and his second gold medal with U.S.A. Basketball.

This season, James is averaging 23.5 points, 8.1 rebounds, 9.3 assists and 1.1 steals through 15 games. Cleveland is 13-3 and sits atop the East.

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Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla needs surgery, out for three months

Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla will be out for up to three months as his ankle injury now requires surgery.

The Gunners confirmed the news on Thursday, as the Spanish international midfielder, 31, had not recovered quick enough from the injury he suffered in the UEFA Champions League game against Ludogorets on Oct. 18.

In a statement on Arsenal’s website, they confirmed Cazorla will travel to have an operation next week.

"Santi Cazorla is travelling to Sweden early next week to undergo surgery to his right ankle.

The club’s medical team and specialists have decided that surgery is required to the plantaris tendon in the Spain international’s right foot. The problem has not progressed during a rehabilitation programme following the injury during the home match with Ludogorets on October 19.

We expect Santi’s full recovery to take approximately three months. Everyone at the club will be working hard with Santi to make sure he’s back on the pitch as soon as possible."

Cazorla is a big loss for the Gunners and in the deep-lying midfield role he makes them tick and is so effortless on the ball. Since he went down injured Arsenal has drawn three of its five Premier League games.

November is typically a bad month for Arsene Wenger and it is once again proving to be the case. They lost to Southampton in the EFL Cup quarterfinals to close out the month plus they drew against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur with two mixed displays. As well as Cazorla not recovering, Wenger also lost Hector Bellerin, Olivier Giroud and Matheiu Debuchy through injury.

Wenger, as he always seems to do at this time of the year, will hope December brings better results and less injuries.

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Dortmund stun Bayern as Leipzig top Bundesliga Table

Borussia Dortmund stunned champions and arch-rivals Bayern Munich 1-0 on Saturday in a bad-tempered "Der Klassiker" clash to leave RB Leipzig the shock Bundesliga leaders.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prodded in on 11 minutes at a frenzied Signal Iduna Park to propel Dortmund up to third on 21 points, three points behind Bayern, for whom this was a first defeat of the league season.

RB Leipzig are top, unbeaten and three points clear of the mighty Bayern, after a thrilling 3-2 win at Bayer Leverkusen on Friday signalled another milestone in their fast, but controversial rise to the top of German football.

Aubameyang scored the only goal of the game – he should have gone on to grab at least two more – poking in the ball from close range after ex-Bayern man Mario Goetze's cross.

The striker celebrated with three push-ups and the home side were on the attack again moments later, the Bayern rearguard creaking as the fans at the intimidating 81 000 arena ratcheted up the volume once more.

Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel said it had been a bruising encounter. "We have suffered a lot," he said. "But when you get into the ring with Bayern, you should not expect to step out again without black eyes."

Philipp Lahm, the Bayern captain, admitted that neutrals would be delighted to see someone other than the Bavarians at the top.

"It's good for the Bundesliga, it's what the whole world wanted," he added bitterly.

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Sir Alex Ferguson Ordered to Repay 20 Times His Investment in Tax Avoidance Scheme

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is among hundreds  of investors ordered to pay back 20 times their investments in a tax avoidance scheme, per The Times (H/T the Mirror).

Several celebrities are screaming bankruptcy after officials demanded that they fork out the various sums.

Ex-England managers Glenn Hoddle and Sven-Goran Eriksson are reported to be among the 780 who invested £2.2bn into Eclipse. However, there's no evidence of any of the investors being in financial trouble, nor can it be proven that they knew how the scheme worked.

The Times claims that Eclipse went through a complex process of buying Hollywood blockbusters and then renting them to studios.

Now ordered to pay back, an investor who placed a £200k in a particular scheme would have to pay between £2bn an £4bn back within 90 days.

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Yaya Touré scores twice on return as Manchester City win Crystal Palace

Yaya Toure made a sensational return to the Manchester City ranks, scoring twice on his comeback to inspire the title contenders to a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Ivorian powerhouse was in the City line-up for his first league appearance of the season, back in the fold after recently making a public apology following comments the player's agent had made about the club and manager Pep Guardiola.

Injury-prone City captain Vincent Kompany had to go off with injury after a collision with his own keeper Claudio Bravo but Toure was soon back in business when his 39th minute shot, via a deflection, flew past Wayne Hennessey.

After Palace equalised in the 66th minute with a Connor Wickham strike, Toure struck seven minutes from time to consign the home side to their fifth consecutive defeat, slotting home from a low corner delivered expertly by Kevin de Bruyne.

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Aaron Ramsey reveals why he rejected Manchester United for Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey has the reasoning behind his decision to join Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal over Manchester United as a youngster.

The Wales international faced a choice between the two clubs and Everton at the age of 17 while on the books at Cardiff City .

Sir Alex Ferguson, then United’s manager, had inquired about Ramsey’s availability with his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones, while Jones’ assistant Terry Burton recommended the youngster to Arsenal.

Despite growing up as a United fan, Ramsey ultimately opted for north London and he has now cited Wenger’s red-carpet treatment as one of the reasons behind his decision.

“I went up there to see the facilities and I went to see Arsène Wenger,” he told Sky Sports. “He did a lot to try and get me to this club.

“As a 17-year-old, flying out on a private jet to his hotel [in Switzerland for Euro 2008] was surreal but I think I made the right decision.

“I just felt a bit more wanted by Arsenal and by the boss,” he added. Ramsey could feature in Arsenal’s tip to Old Trafford on Saturday, but may have to make do with a place among the substitutes having only recently returned from injury.

The 25-year-old midfielder limped off with a hamstring problem during Arsenal’s opening game of the season, a 4-3 defeat to Liverpool, and admits he found his spell on the sidelines frustrating.

“After the Euros I had, I was desperate to get back and carry that on,” said Ramsey, who was included in Uefa’s Euro 2016 ‘Team of the Tournament’ after impressing with Wales.

“Then to get an injury in the first game and a few setbacks after that - it's been so frustrating.

“It's one of those things, you can't get too down, you just have to get on with it. Luckily the team have been doing well, now we just have to keep that going.”

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CSKA Moscow midfielder gets two-year ban for taking cocaine

CSKA Moscow midfielder Roman Eremenko has been given a two-year ban for testing positive for cocaine after a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen in September.

The 29-year-old’s ban starts on October 6, which is when the Finnish international was provisionally suspended.

Eremenko, who was born in Moscow but raised in Finland, played for CSKA in their 1-0 home defeat by Tottenham a fortnight after his positive test but a week before UEFA started disciplinary proceedings.

A statement from the European governing body’s control, ethics and disciplinary board said “the presence of cocaine” was found in his sample and the drug is classified as a stimulant by the World Anti-Doping Agency when used in-competition.

“This decision may be appealed against within three days of receipt of the written reasoning,” the statement added.

Eremenko has played 73 times for Finland as well as enjoying successful stints with Dynamo Kiev and Rubin Kazan. He was the Russian Premier League’s player of the season in 2014/15.

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Greizmann beats Messi, Ronaldo to win La Liga Best Player Award

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann was named La Liga player of the season for 2015/16 on Monday, ahead of the likes of star duo Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Atletico's Diego Simeone also took the coach of the season award while Barcelona's Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was named the top non-EU player.

Curiously, though, Barca's Argentina international Messi was recognised as the best forward at the award ceremony in Valencia.

Atletico dominated the awards as Jan Oblak was best goalkeeper, Diego Godin top defender and Frenchman Griezmann also claimed the fans' award. Real Madrid weren't left empty-handed, though, as Luka Modric was named best midfielder.

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Jose Mourinho: Abramovich and I were not friends at Chelsea

Jose Mourinho has the utmost respect for Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich but insists they were not friends during his two stints as manager at Stamford Bridge.

Mourinho takes his Manchester United side to London on Sunday, his first return to Stamford Bridge after being sacked by Abramovich in December 2015, just seven months after leading the club to the Premier League title.

It was the second time he had left Chelsea after a three-year spell came to an abrupt end in 2007 with reports suggesting it was the result of a falling out with the club's billionaire owner.

The Portuguese was eager to stress he held Abramovich in high regard but refused the offer to call him a friend.

"No, but we always had that kind of relationship. He was the owner and I respected him like that. I was the coach and I was respected like that," He told Sky Sports. "We were never close friends.

"If I went to his house it was for a professional meeting. We never shared anything personal. We were not friends, maybe because I was respectful for the position of the owner. Maybe because I showed him respect I didn't have problems but we were not close."

Asked what he would do if he bumped into the Russian at Stamford Bridge, he added: "I will shake his hand, I will ask if his kids are fine.

"I know some of them and I like them, they are very polite, respectful and humble. If I have that chance it will be normal."

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Gareth Bale: Luka Modric is Real Madrid best trainer, not Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo might not be too pleased when he sees this answer from Gareth Bale.

The Portugal star’s dedication to keeping himself in tip-top shape is well known as Real Madrid’s coaches and players often reveal the extent of Ronaldo’s obsessive approach to training and fitness.

Even in Ronaldo’s own film, the Madrid forward was doing press-ups and sit-ups with his own son.

So when Gareth Bale was asked to pick Madrid’s best trainer, it was a bit of a shock when Ronaldo wasn’t the name that immediately sprung to mind.

‘For me, Luka Modric,’ Bale told talkSPORT.

‘He’s the best trainer. He always seems to always be consistent, and seeing passes that no one else sees.

‘Obviously being with him at Tottenham and here at Real Madrid, I’ve been able to witness it many times.’

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Pep Guardiola hails Everton counterpart Ronald Koeman ahead of match in Etihad

Pep Guardiola has hailed Everton boss Ronald Koeman as he prepares to pit his wits against his former Barcelona teammate at the Etihad on Saturday.

The pair spent five years as teammates at the Nou Camp and the Manchester City boss says he learned a lot from the Dutchman during that time.

“We spent a lot of time and he was so generous, not only on the pitch," Guardiola said.

“I learned a lot just from looking at him. He was one of the first central defenders with the quality not just to defend.


“Johan Cruyff bought Ronald Koeman to show us, to teach us why we need a central defender like Ronald.

“He was one of the few guys I never saw felt or miss an important game. I never saw him play a bad game in an important game.”

City will be without Bacary Sagna, with Guardiola hinting he could play another player at right-back rather than recognised choice Pablo Zabaleta.

The City boss also said the Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling are all 'much, much, much better', but said they would not all feature.

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Cristiano Ronaldo wins UEFA Champions League best player Award

Real Madrid Superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo has won the 2015/2016 best player in the Champions League award as voted by Spanish and Italian sports papers MARCA and Gazzetta Dello Sport after scoring 16 goals (51 in all competitions) to help Real Madrid claim an 11th European Cup/Champions League title, which together with his country's triumph at Euro 2016 also makes him the number one favourite to reclaim the Ballon d'Or.


'I've won the Champions League and the Euros, it's a beautiful moment in my career and my sporting life,' Ronaldo said at the AC Hotel La Finca in Madrid.

'It just makes me want to keep working hard for this club. I hope to remain at Real Madrid for years to come,' Ronaldo said. 'This is the club I love. We have a big squad that can cover for Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos' injuries- it'll be difficult but Real have the quality.

Posting a photo of him carrying the prestigious award on his Instagram page, he captioned it:


'Gracias/Grazie to the readers of Marca and Gazzetta dello Sport for this award. Wouldn't have been possible without my team mates. Thank you all!'

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England Football Legend Gerry Gow dies after losing battle with cancer

Gerry Gow, a former Bristol City and Manchester City midfielder and Yeovil Town player-boss has died aged 64 after being diagnosed with cancer this year.

Gerry Gow spent 12 years at Bristol City The Scot also played for Rotherham and Burnley. He made 445 appearances for Bristol City, becoming a club legend, before joining Manchester City in 1981.

After making his debut in 1970, Gow helped Bristol City win promotion to the old First Division in 1976.

He scored twice in Manchester City’s run to the FA Cup final of 1981.


“Everyone at the club sends its condolences to Gerry’s family and friends at this sad time,” a Bristol City statement said.



A statement from Manchester City said: “Everyone at Manchester City FC is saddened to learn of the passing of Gerry Gow at the age of 64 following his brave battle with illness.

“A cult hero in his short spell at Maine Road in the eighties, Gow made 36 appearances for the Blues between 1981 and 1982.”

Gow ended his playing career as player-manager at then non-league Yeovil Town, where he was in charge from 1984 to 1987.

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Maria Sharapova drugs ban reduced from two years to 15 months

Maria Sharapova's two-year doping ban has been reduced to 15 months following her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The five-time Grand Slam winner, 29, was initially banned by the International Tennis Federation for two years after testing positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

The Russian will be able to return to the tennis court on 26 April, 2017.

"I am counting the days until I can return," she said.

"In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it."

Sharapova said she had been taking the drug since 2006 for health problems and had "not tried to use a performance-enhancing substance".

She said she was unaware the drug had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list.
The former world number one said she could not "accept" the "unfairly harsh" ban when it was announced in June.

"I've gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April," she said.

"I have learned from this, and I hope the ITF has as well. Cas concluded that 'the panel has determined it does not agree with many of the conclusions of the ITF tribunal'.

"I have taken responsibility from the very beginning for not knowing that the over-the-counter supplement I had been taking for the last 10 years was no longer allowed.

"But I also learned how much better other federations were at notifying their athletes of the rule change, especially in Eastern Europe where mildronate is commonly taken by millions of people.

"Now that this process is over, I hope the ITF and other relevant tennis anti-doping authorities will study what these other federations did, so that no other tennis player will have to go through what I went through."

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Cameroon: Former Liverpool defender Rigobert Song fighting for life after stroke

Former Liverpool, West Ham United and Cameroon defender Rigobert Song is reportedly fighting for his life after being rushed to hospital in Yaounde.

The 40-year-old is the uncle of former Arsenal, West Ham and Charlton midfielder Alex.

The head coach of Chad’s senior national team is in a critical condition after suffering from cerebral aneurysm.


The football world was quick to unite in support of the popular ex-player, who won more than 100 caps for Cameroon.

Fellow Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o posted a picture of Song with the caption “I wish you a lot of courage and a speedy recovery big brother!”

Jamie Carragher, Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler also posted messages of sympathy in the wake of the news, while Liverpool tweeted a message of support from the club’s official account on Monday morning.

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LeBron James Endorses Hillary Clinton for U.S Presidency

Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James announced Sunday night that he would vote for Hillary Clinton to be president, a key endorsement in James’ native Ohio that could help Clinton win the critical swing state.

“If basketball has taught me anything, it’s that no one achieves greatness alone. And it takes everyone working together to create real change,” James wrote in his endorsement, which was published on Business Insider. The piece will also run Monday in the Akron Beacon Journal.

James wrote that in the 2016 presidential race, only one person running understands the struggles of a kid born into poverty in Akron, Ohio. And when he considers the policies and ideas the kids in his LeBron James Family Foundation need from government, the choice of which candidate to back is clear.

“That candidate is Hillary Clinton ,” he wrote.

Unlike many top athletes, James hasn’t shied away from occasionally getting political.

He endorsed President Barack Obama in 2012, was a key backer of Obamacare in 2014, and famously wore an “I can’t breathe ” shirt during warmups that same year in response to the police killing of Eric Garner.

James says Clinton would build on the legacy of his “good friend” Obama.

“I believe in what President Obama has done for our country,” he wrote, adding that he supports Clinton’s “commitment to continuing that legacy.”

James is an important backer in Ohio, where GOP nominee Donald Trump has maintained a small lead in most recent polls . If Clinton can edge out Trump in Ohio, his electoral pathway to victory becomes extremely limited.

Trump did not immediately respond to the endorsement on Sunday night. But the GOP nominee has praised James in the past.

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Alex Iwobi is a mixture of Jay-Jay Okocha and Edgar Davids - Mesut Ozil

Arsenal's Alex Iwobi is a mixture of Jay-Jay Okocha and Edgar Davids, according to Gunners teammate Mesut Ozil.

Iwobi, 20, has made six appearances this season and set up three goals but Germany international Ozil says he has the strength to complement his creativity too.

"He reminds me of his uncle, Jay-Jay Okocha," Ozil said. "He was a player I loved watching.

"Alex reminds me of a mixture of him and Edgar Davids. He's really strong on the ball, also defensively, but he's good in front of goal too.

"He's developing really well and if he continues the way he's been playing for the whole season, he will enhance his game.

"The manager knows exactly how good he is and I wish him all the best."

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Breaking: Finally it has happened. FA sacks England Boss Sam Allardyce

Sam Allardyce has been sacked as England manager after one match and 67 days in charge having behaved "inappropriately" when caught up in a newspaper sting, the Football Association said on Tuesday.

The 61-year-old's departure follows a Daily Telegraph investigation claiming he offered advice to a bogus group of Far East businessmen on how to get around rules on player transfers.

Allardyce was reported to have used his role to negotiate a deal worth 400 000 pounds ($520 840.00) to represent a Far East firm seeking advice on the transfer market.

The money would be paid for a series of visits and speeches, and though Allardyce made it clear to the meeting that any arrangement would have to be cleared with the FA and later apologised for what he described as an error of judgement, he was forced out of his dream job.

The FA said in a statement: "Allardyce's conduct, as reported today, was inappropriate of the England manager. He accepts he made a significant error of judgement and has apologised. However, due to the serious nature of his actions, The FA and Allardyce have mutually agreed to terminate his contract with immediate effect."

"This is not a decision that was taken lightly but The FA's priority is to protect the wider interests of the game and maintain the highest standards of conduct in football.

"The manager of the England men's senior team is a position which must demonstrate strong leadership and show respect for the integrity of the game at all times."

Allardyce was appointed in July following the departure of Roy Hodgson after this year's European Championship and has overseen only the 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia.

One of the highest-paid managers in the game with a salary of about 3 million pounds ($3.9 million) a year, Allardyce was secretly filmed by the Telegraph discussing England's failings with a group he had been told were businessmen with interests in Singapore and Hong Kong.

During his meetings with the newspaper's undercover reporters, Allardyce also criticised his predecessor Hodgson, referring to him as "Woy" and saying he "hasn't got the personality" for public speaking.

He leaves having become the shortest-serving England manager - albeit with a 100percent winning record.

Gareth Southgate will take charge of the England team for the next four matches against Malta, Slovenia, Scotland and Spain while the FA searches for a new manager, with Bournemouth's Eddie Howe the early bookmaker's favourite.

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England boss Sam Allardyce close to being sacked after remarks on bending FA Transfer rules

Sam Allardyce is on the brink of being sacked as England manager. Allardyce was pushed closer to the exit door after being summoned to Wembley for crisis talks with FA chiefs.

And it is understood that Allardyce will struggle to survive the grilling over the undercover sting by the Daily Telegraph.

Former Sunderland boss Allardyce's remarks about bending the FA's rules on third party ownership are particularly damning.

One lawyer suggested to the Mirror Sport that there is enough grounds for dismissal.

The talks at Wembley involved FA chairman Greg Clarke and chief executive Martin Glenn and there is a growing feeling that Allardyce will go.

Allardyce is under severe pressure after agreeing a £400,000 bogus contract to do after dinner speaking but his remarks made to two undercover reporters posing as businessmen are far worse.

He mocked former England boss Roy Hodgson's speech impediment and questioned Gary Neville's role.

But the remarks on third party ownership have gone down very badly and one source told Mirror Sport that they believe the FA will sack him.

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Zidane dismisses talk of rift with Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane denied on Monday there was a rift between him and Cristiano Ronaldo after the team's talisman appeared to react angrily to being substituted in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Las Palmas.

Ronaldo's response to being taken off in the 72nd minute of the game has been the subject of much attention in the Spanish media in the build up to Tuesday's heavyweight Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Zidane, however, said the incident has already been forgotten. "Everything is normal. Cristiano wasn't the only one angry after the game but it's over now and we are thinking about tomorrow's game," the Frenchman told a news conference on Tuesday.

"I understand the level of attention it received but it is what it is. I took the decision in the best (interests) of the player and that's not going to change anything.

"We have spoken about it. I'm not dumb and he's intelligent. We all have the same objectives, the two of us and the rest of the team."

Ronaldo, the all-time top scorer in the competition with 94 goals, has struggled to regain fitness and form since limping off in the Euro 2016 final with a knee injury.

The prolific Portuguese has averaged over a goal per game in his seven seasons with Real but has made a slow start to his eighth campaign, missing three games with injury and scoring two goals in four appearances, completing 90 minutes twice.

Real's strong start to the season has been punctured by two consecutive draws, which interrupted a joint La Liga record of 16 straight wins.

Their problems have been worsened by injuries to midfield anchor Casemiro and left back Marcelo, who will both miss the game against Dortmund.

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